The talking skull is a character who appeared in the original Disneyland attraction Pirates of the Caribbean. The skull appeared in several forms in Pirates of the Caribbean media, from either the famous design of a "skull and crossbones", often seen in a Jolly Roger; or a floating skull.

"Psst! Avast there! It be too late to alter course, mateys...and there be plundering pirates lurking in every cove, waitin' to board. Sit closer together, and keep your ruddy hands inboard. That be the best way to repel boarders. And mark well me words, mateys...dead men tell no tales!"

The talking skull's first appearance was in the Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland. After their boat turns a final corner of the Blue Bayou in the brick channel, guests find a mysterious voice from a living Jolly Roger. Mounted on the bricks above the boat's path, the talking skull with crossed swords (voiced by Disney legend X Atencio, who was also responsible for writing the entire show script) narrates the introduction to the dead men's grotto while asking guests to take heed of his warnings that dead men tell no tales.

Because of the success of the attraction, other versions of the Pirates ride were made to other Disney Parks all over the world. However, when the ride at Walt Disney World was refurbished for the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest in 2006, some sweeping changes were made to the classic attraction. One was the removal of the talking skull, much to the dismay of many fans.[2] The Florida version of the skull would make a return in 2017 as part of a new on-ride photograph. This skull would be voiced by James Arnold Taylor.

After guests walk through the door that the skull is mounted atop of, entering the main attraction, the disembodied pirate skull appears, now floating in the sky, narrating the adventurous moments that unfold, each representing memorable parts of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series. When a skeleton army suddenly appeared, the skull in the sky asked guests to unlock a chest with great power and do away with the skeletons by reciting, "Send those bones to Davy Jones." The skull then guides guests through attacks from Jones' ship, the Flying Dutchman, as well as the Kraken and mermaids. Finally, to finish of Davy Jones, the skull calls for Captain Jack Sparrow himself to come up from the ship's cabin and appear on deck, whether he was with a redheaded wench or stumbling on rum bottles on deck. Standing on the ship's bow, Jack took the lead in defeating Jones and the Flying Dutchman.

From there forward, Captain Jack and the floating skull share a rapport, in which Jack makes guests take the pirate's oath and sings A Pirate's Life for Me, while Jack drinks a bottle of rum. After Jack disappears, the skull warns guests to mark what Jack had said as well as to remember the day they sailed with Captain Jack Sparrow.

Because the films were based on the original ride, they needed the skull as the series' main logo. The logo would appear in posters and various promotional material. Each of the Blu-ray releases had the skulls talk in the menus, introducing viewers to contents such as the film and its special features.